Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-18

mediately, for my stock of ready money was
running low, although l had my railway
passes for transportation.
Accordingly / went to the hotel, and
| after vainly seeking for Eloise on every bal
cony, and in the parlors, 1 was met IN the
hall by a servant who informed ME That
| Miss Graham had gone boating with a
party of young ladies. AS my time was
limited if l caught the evening train, there
was nothing to do but to write n letter III
forming her of my departure on an urgent
matter of business, assure her OF my I'M
dying love, and beg her to write me imme-
| diately at Cincinnati.
l settled my bill, gave the letter to the
| clerk with instructions to deliver it lmme-
diately upon Miss Graham's arrival, and
took the little steamer for the station, at
the lower end of the lake. feeling more dis
consulate than ever before in my life.
Arriving at the depot, 1 boarded the east
bound train, and was soon en-route for
home. and a recommencement OF mat
labor by which l must hereafter exist. II
was a dreary ride, and my mind was filled
with strange forebodings, Of which no ef-
fort could rid me.
arrived Mt my destination and took up
my usual routine of duties, living each day
in the hope of receiving a letter on the
next, but no letter came. 1 addressed a
letter to her at the lake, but the letter was
shortly returned unopened.
The days few by and was at last COM
PEELED to believe that in some way the fact
of my losing my little property had become
known to Eloise and her father, and that
my reverses in fortune were to be followed
by the loss of her affection and my faith in
humanity.
A year passed, and never during that
time had I heard from any source the
the slightest word in regard to the Ora
hams. 1 worked on with q weary heart,
but persistently, and devoting myself SO
closely to the interests of the paper, that at
the end of the sixth year 1 found myself at
the head of tho editorial department. My
duties were arduous and had told upon my
health to such a degree that it had been
deemed advisable for mi to take a clay
Off" Accordingly a subordinate had been
deputed to ssum my duties, and 1 was
given a two-months leave of absence.
Since that fatal day I had never thought of
returning 10 the scene of my unfortunate
infatuation, but when this opportunity
came I found myself borne thither as fast
as steam could carry me, without knowing
why l went.
On this beautiful morning / had risen
early and gone out for q stroll before the
breakfast hour should arrive, and as l
stood upon the beach l lived over again
the happy hours I had spent upon that
hallowed spot. 1t was as real as life to me,
and I was only reused from my reverie by
that breakfast was served. and I wendell
my way back.
On entering the dining-room, and being
ushered into a seat near the door, l gazed
around to see if there was one among them
all whose face was familiar to me. But
not in all the crowded d~ining-hall could
discover a countenance that I knew. But
, stay-there seated at a table at the farther
end Of the room, was a figure which was
| strangely familiar, and for an instant il
flashed upon me- that it was Eloise. The
lady moved, her face was turned toward
pointment stole over me. The face was
a strange one. I finished my repast, anc
+, rose from the table with a determination
! not to remain longer than one day: a deter.
mination which soon lost its force, and
, remained for a week.
One day, drawn by the same Irresistible
impulse that had heretofore characterize
G my visits to the spot, ] wandered TOWARD
: the place where l had stood. will
r Eloise. AS l neared the end of tn
e graveled walk l met a lady heavily veile,
and dressed in the sombre hue that be
: tokened deep affection. The figure cam
S nearer, passed, and yet 1 followed her witt
: my eye, forthere wa o certain a style in tn
e carriage of the perfect form that reminded
me of my love of long ago. Where I ha,
watched her out of sight I retraced m,
/ steps to the hotel and inquired of tn
l. clefk who the lady in deep mourning was
W lie could not satisfy my inquisitive mind
n for he knew nothing Of the lady excer
a that, attended by q maid, she occupied on
of the small cottages adjacent and belong
ing to the hotel property.
1 Dissatisfied with my ill in curl
osity-seeking, and cursing myself for tax
ing SO much interest in q woman who wa
undoubtedly a stranger, l wandered ava
over the hills in search of solitude. Re
naming away until late in the afternoon
Oh my return l was compelled to pass III
spot which had become endeared TO me
n and was astonished to see the form of
o woman-the woman in mourning who la
" awakened such an interest in my mint
seated OIL a small rustic bench, weepin
violently. l could not pass with
out being perceived, and not wish
ing to remain where I was, q
unseen spectator of another's griet
g I was just on the point of discovering nv
self, when to my amazement l heard m
1t own name.
y ooh, Arthur, my love, my love! VIII
did you leave me without so much as
y word? Oh, God, send back my one love
g or let me die!"
Could it be possible? My heart WI
l ~ fp, NrS 1S1.o n <~s, t-,- ~ 49,